WASHINGTON -- New regulations for Military Electronics Category XI that go into effect next week will reportedly clarify ITAR controls on printed circuit boards, IPC says. 

CHENNAI -- The intensity surrounding Foxconn's decision to close its manufacturing plant here ramped today as more than 500 workers reportedly tried to enter the site.

MILPITAS, CA -- Lenthor Engineering has moved into a new 55,000 sq. ft., $16-million printed circuit board manfuacturing facility here.

BANNOCKBURN, IL --  The 90-day moving average orders among North American PCB fabricators bookings increased 12.4% in November, IPC said today.

LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES — Cirtek Holdings Philippines will raise $10 million via a corporate note issuance with plans to use the funds for future acquisitions. 

TAIPEI -- In the face of criticism that it is ignoring humane treatment of its workers in order to meet Apple's demands, Pegatron, the world's second-largest EMS/ODM company, today issued a statement insisting that worker safety is its top priority.

KULAIJAYA, JOHOR, MALAYSIA -- Beyonics Technology is pouring about $10 million in a new 288,000 sq ft. facility here, where the EMS company will build everything from electronics assemblies to metal enclosures and frames.

SAN JOSE — The 90-day moving average orders among North America-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers was $1.22 billion, down slightly year-over-year but up from October, SEMI said. 

SRIPERUMBUDUR, INDIA -- A Foxconn employees union remains at a standstill with management over the company’s decision to suspend operations at its India plant.

The plant is scheduled to close Dec. 24, leaving the future of the site's 1,700 employees in doubt.

Foxconn management reportedly told the Indian Labor Department that the plant would remain open until this weekend, after which emplpyyes would receive an undisclosed amount of paid time off. The union is responding by saying the "holiday" is in fact a shutdown.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Jabil Circuit today reported preliminary fiscal 2015 first-quarter net revenue of $4.55 billion, up 5% year-over-year. Net income for the quarter ended Nov. 30 was $72.2 million, down 38.8% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

VINCENNCES, CEDEX, FRANCE -- Inventec Performance Materials yesterday acquired SMT International, the manufacturer of Amtech brand solder pastes.

WASHINGTON – The US Environmental Protection Agency yesterday released an updated draft alternatives assessment of the environmental and human health impacts of flame retardants used or that could be used in printed circuit boards for electronics products, such as cellphones and computers.